Supporting device



, Dec.2o,193s. RHMEYER 2,141,009

SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug'. 5, 1957 Patented Dec. Z0, 1938 UNITED STATES uitte PATENT OFFICE SUPPGRTING DEVICE Pierre H. Meyer, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application August 3, 1937, Serial No. 157,097

' 4 claims. (c1. S12-140) This invention relates to various kinds and classes of supporting devices and particularly to devices employing brackets used as supporting members for various articles; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the class specified employing as a mounting member an elongated stripk or band having means spaced equally thereon for adjustably supporting a number of brackets longitudinally of said band, said means being preferably in the form of pairs of hook-shaped flanges forming elongated sockets transversely of the band for receiving projecting tongue members on said brackets; a further ob ject being to provide a band of the class del5 scribed wherein the pairs of flanges or clips are arranged to project from j one surface of the band, and other means spaced longitudinally of the band, intermediate said pairs of clips, for attaching the band to a support in` either of two different positions; a still further objectbeing to provide a band and bracket construction of the class described adapted for use in conjunction with shams in the support of transverse partition plates upon the upper surface of the sham and at different intervals longitudinally thereof; and

with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, enicient in use, and whichis constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvements are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fg. l is a cross section through a part of a counter Vand one of the shams arranged thereon showing one method of using my invention.'

lsloking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another method of attaching the strip or band in connection with a sham or other support.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View yof one of the brackets which I employ, detached.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a supporting band similar to that shown in the other figures, showing a different form of bracket supported thereon.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig` 6 showing an- 55 other modification.

Fig. 2 is a side edge view of a part ofthe shamA Fig. 8 is a partial section on the line B-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View showing another method of mounting the band in connection with a different form of support.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown for the purpose of illustrating one use of the invention, a part of the upper surface of a counter or shelf IIJ upon which is arranged the usual sham boards, one of which is indicated at I I. The board in the construction shown is plain or unsurfaced, but in some instances a felt or other facing is employed, but as this forms no direct part of the invention, the same is not illustrated. In practice I attach to the opposite side edges of the sham board II bracket supporting strips I2 which are preferably of less width than the thickness of the board II and are arranged preferably throughout the full length of the sham board so as to ,provide a large number of adjustments ol?` partition supporting brackets I3 so that transverse partition strips I4 may be arranged at different. intervals longitudinally of the board II.

The above result is made possible by providing on the strip or band I2 spaced pairs of hookshaped clips or flanges I5 which are formed from the material of the strip as indicated by the apertures I I.l The flanges orclips I5 form on one surface of the strip I2, channels I'I into which projecting tongues I8 on the brackets I3 are adapted to pass in the manner illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing. It will also be understood, however, that the tongues I8 may be disposed between adjacent pairs of clips, except where the apertured beads I@ are located. That is to say, the tongues I8 may be arranged in the plain sections 20 and in the sections provided with the apertures ZI. The sections are arranged in the alternate manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. That is to say a plain section 20 is disposed between the beaded section I9 and apertured section 2|, and the sections I9 and 2I are alternately arranged.

In the mounting of the strip or band I2 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing, one surface of the strip proper is arranged directly upon the outer side of the sham II and nails or other fastenings 22 are passed through the apertures ZI in securing the band in position. However, in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the pairs of clips or flanges I 5 are arranged to rest upon the side of the sham II, and in this :form of construction the fastener devices 22V pass through the apertured beads I9. It is understood that the outer convex surfaces 9i the beads I9 are in alinement with the outer surfaces of the pairs of clips I 5 whereas the heads of the fasteners 22 are countersunk in the concaved sides of said beads.

In mounting a series of shams upon a counter or other supp-ort, longitudinal partition members 23 are usually arranged at the side edges of the shams or between adjacent edges thereof. The partition strips 23 rest upon the outer exposed surfaces of the strips or bands I2. In both mountings, a somewhat resilient cushion is provided by the pairs of clips I5 so as to compensate for any shocks or strains between the sham and the strips 23.

It will be understood that the thickness of the metal of the several parts is exaggerated in the drawing for clearance of illustration. In actual practice the band I2 is preferably composed of very thin strip material of any kind or class, and strip metal is preferred in mo-st uses. In mounting the strips I2 upon the edges of the sham, it is also preferred that Vthe upper edge of said strips be in alinement with the upper surface of the sham board to which it is attached.

The body portion proper of the bracket I3 is in the form of a U-shaped spring clip consisting of a narrow cross head 24 with which the tongues I?. are integral, vwide yconi/erging side plates 25 within and between which the partition. strip Id is tensionally supported, `the side plates having upwardly and outwardly flared flanges 2G at the upper forward ends thereof which facilitate insertion of the strip I4 in the U-shaped clip or between the side plates 25 thereof.

In the use of the device as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will beunderstood that the tongues I 8 may be made suiiciently narrow tofreely enter the channel I1, in which event the tensional engagement of the brackets I3 with the partition I4 will permit the removal of the brackets with the partition as a unit, `in the operation of ,shifting the same. On Ythe other hand. the tongues I8 may be made to t snugly in the channel I'I or within the spring clips orilanges I5, in which event the brackets may be temporarily retained as a unit part of the sham in the operation of cleaning the same or in altering the arrangement of shams in a counter display.

With the construction shown, a relatively close adjustment of the brackets I3 is provided with the pairs of clips I5, say for example on half-inch centers, it being understood .that other adjustments may be provided by arranging `the brackets between the pairs of clips at certain sections thereof as above stated. It will of course be understood that the particular manner of formingV the channels or sockets I'I in which the tongue or mounting ends I8 Vof the .brackets are adaptedY to be inserted, may be varied and modified to suit the different uses thereof, the illustration in the accompanying drawing being only illustrative of one method of constructing the device.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing I Vhave shown at 21 another form of bracket consisting of a hook-shaped rod having a long horizontal portion 28 with an angularly and upwardly extending part 29 at the outer end thereof, and a flattened angularly and downwardly extending mounting part 35 at the other` end thereof which is adapted to be mounted between thespaced clips or flanges I 5 of the strip I2. This sort `of a device will adapt the invention for use in supporting various kinds and classes of merchandise suitable for arrangement on or hanging from the hook-shaped bracket 2l upon a wall, shelf edge, or any other support, and especially'where it is desirable to arrange a series of the brackets 21 in relatively close proximity to each other. As another example, the strip I2 may be arranged upon a curved or other irregular supporting surface as partly indicated at 3| in Fig. 9 of the drawing. A number of the brackets 2'I may be supported therein, or brackets similar to the bracket 32 shown in Figs. '7 and 8 may be employed.

The bracket 32 is what might be termed a forkshaped bracket consisting of a longitudinal split horizontal portion 33, the split of which is indicated at 34. The horizontal portion terminates atits outer end in upstanding flanges 35 which will operate to retain articles of merchandise against displacement from the bracket 32V. The other end of the bracket has three downwardly directed tongues, namely two similar side tongues 35, 36a and a central or intermediate tongue 3l. The tongues 36, 36a are of such construction and arrangement as to enter adjacent pairs of clips I5 in thestrip -,I2, whereas the tongue 31 is disposed between said pairs of clips and aids in the reinforcement of the mounting of the bracket 32 in connection with the strip. The bracket 32 is adapted for mounting belts and other articles of merchandise therein, especially where part of the article may be disposed in the split 34.

VIt will be apparentrthat while I have shown certain types of brackets for mounting in connection with the supporting strip and have also illustrated and described certain uses of the strip', that my invention is not limited. In -these respects many adaptations and uses of a combined bracket and mounting strip of the kind under consideration may be provided. It will also appear that by providing pairs of clips or fianges I5, a resilient mounting is provided which will more securely and firmly .support the respective brackets in position. This is desirable in certain uses of the invention, but is by no means essential in all uses thereof.

In connection with the use of the invention on shams, it will appear that adjustments of the partition or partitions I4 may be made without removing or disturbing the sham on its support. Free access is had to the pairs of clips or the sockets or channels therebetween at the upper surface of the sham/and the side edges thereof. When the partitions 23 are in place, these partitions will more or less guide the tongues I8 of the brackets I3 into position.

It will also appear that by providing the different sections having the beads I9 and apertures 2I at spaced intervals on the strip, the mounting of the strip upon different surfaces becomes universal, which is also true with respect to the centralized location of the clips I5 thereon. In some instances, the strips may be arranged vertically, that is Vto say, with thelongitudinal plane of the clips I5 or the sockets or channels formed thereby disposed horizontally, thus providing for the mounting of brackets at one or both sides of the strip I2 as will be apparent. rlhis sort of mounting is especially adaptable for use on an outer narrow edge, a vertical member of a wall shelf construction, or upon any other vertically arranged support. It will of course'be apparent that with this type of construction, other forms and types of brackets may be employed to suit the different` uses to which the invention may be applied.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y Y

1. A device of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet material, said strip having sockets arranged on one side surface thereof at longitudin-ally spaced intervals, said sockets opening through at least one side edge portion of the strip to be accessible therethrough, said sockets being arranged at close and regular intervals thoughout the length of said strip, said sockets being formed by pairs of substantially hook-shaped flanges projecting from said side surface of the strip and arranged inwardly of the side edges of the strip, and the distance between the flanges in each pair being subst-antially equal to the distance between adjacent flanges of the respective pairs to provide other sockets intermediate said pairs of flanges.

2. A bracket supporting member of the class described comprising an elongated strip of material, said strip having pairs of hook-shaped clips arranged longitudinally thereof and projecting from one side surface of the strip, said clips being formed from the material of the strip intermediate side edges thereof, said clips form ing on the surface of said vstrip spaced transverse channels -opening through opposite side edge portions of the strip inwardly of the side edges thereof, and the pairs of clips being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the clips in each` pair to form between the pairs of clips other bracket supporting channels.

3. A bracket supporting member of the class described comprising an elongated strip of material, said strip having pairs of hook-shaped clips arranged longitudinally thereof and projecting from one side surface of the strip, said clips being formed from the material of the strip intermediate side edges thereof, said clips form-V ing on the surface of said strip spaced transverse channels opening through opposite side edge portions of the strip inwardly o-f the side edges thereof, the pairs of clips being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the clips in each pair to form between the pairs of clips other bracket supporting channels, and means including apertures and outwardly pressed apertured beads alternately spaced longitudinally of the strip intermediate the pairs of clips for providing attachment of said strip to a supporting surface with either side of the strip arranged adjacent said surface.

4. A device of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet material, said strip having sockets arranged on one side surface thereof at longitudinally spaced intervals, saidY sockets opening through at least one side edge portion of the strip to be accessible therethrough, said sockets being arranged at close and regular intervals throughout the length of said strip, said sockets being formed by pairs of substantially hook-shaped flanges projecting from said side surface of the strip and arranged inwardly of the side edges of the strip, the distance between the flanges in each pair being substantially equal to the distance between adjacent flanges of the respective pairs to provide other sockets intermediate said pairs of flanges, means alternately spaced longitudinally of the strip providing for the attachment thereof to a supporting surface, said last named means comprising spaced apertures and intermediate apertured beads, and the outer surfaces of said beads being flush with the outer surfaces of said pairs of flanges. l

PIERRE H. MEYER. 

